The building is the American Legion Jack Grennan Post #62, and its members commissioned the patriotic, red-white-and-blue spangled mural that now spans two full sides of the hall.
However, speakers at the mural’s official unveiling on Saturday afternoon noted the artwork has a much farther reach into the community.
“If you are a veteran or a veteran’s family member, this mural is for you,” noted Holly Rowan, president of the Clallam County Veterans Association and the event’s keynote speaker.
“Regardless of where you served or how long it’s been, we’re a team. We all work together We’re a family. I can look around a know … [these veterans] all have my back.
“This mural depicts all of that.”
Christopher Bates and other veterans stand in salute as the Sequim City Band plays Armed Forces Salute at the unveiling of the “Remember Me” mural at the American Legion building.
The mural, Sequim artist Melissa Klein’s “Remember Me,” spans the south and west sides of the American Legion building at 107 E. Prairie St., is the culmination of the Post’s efforts to not only honor veterans but bring some recognition of the myriad of activities its members of the now 98-year-old organization take part.
About a year-and-a-half ago, the local military service advocacy group teamed up with Klein to develop artwork that “aims to holistically recognize [veterans’] sacrifices and spark a dialogue with community members,” according to a press release.
“This is the first mural in Clallam County to depict veterans; we’re very proud,” American Legion post Commander Carl Bradshaw said Saturday.
“We set out what we wanted to do.”
In addition to American military vehicles and other machinery on scenic backdrops on the building’s west side, the mural has a number of bright red-white-and-blue with several figures of soldiers, war-themed symbols, symbols of American Legion activities on the south wall.
Sequim artist Melissa Klein speaks at the unveiling of the American Legion Jack Grennan Post #62’s “Remember Me” mural unveiling.
A highlight Saturday came with the unveiling of a full-body portrait of John F. Grennan, a World War I soldier for whom the Post is named. The 22-year-old was the first from Clallam County to lose his life in the war. Known by his friends as Jack, Grennan was wounded in Germany on June 6, 1918, and died from war wounds between June 6-8 of that year.
“I was just staggered by [his] sacrifice,” Klein said Saturday.
About a dozen of Grennan’s family members were on hand to celebrate the unveiling.
“What a great honor,” said Barry Grennan, whose father was Jack Grennan’s brother.
“They a really kept his memory alive for almost a hundred years.”
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / American Legion post Commander Carl Bradshaw and Sequim artist Melissa Klein unveil the portrait of Jack Grennan as Holly Rowan, president of the Clallam County Veterans Association, looks on at the July 20 unveiling of the Legion’s “Remember Me” mural.
Barry Grennan, of Wilkeson, Washington, who along with a number of other Grennans live in towns near Mount Rainier, said he and his three sisters had talked for years about making a visit to the Post and had called to see when the building might be open when American Legion members noted the efforts to complete the mural.
“They were looking for the family to talk to [about the project],” Barry Grennan said. “They were gracious to open the door for us.”
For more about the American Legion Sequim, visit alpost62.com.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / The Sequim City Band performs one of three patriotic pieces at Sequim’s American Legion mural unveiling ceremony on July 20.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / American Legion post Commander Carl Bradshaw speaks at the unveiling of the “Remember Me” mural in Sequim on July 20.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / Sequim City Band member Jason Wilwert plays at the unveiling of the “Remember Me” mural in Sequim on July 20.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / A photograph of Jack Grennan hangs inside the American Legion Jack Grennan Post #62 building on East Prairie Street.
Sequim Gazette photo by Michael Dashiell / American Legion post Commander Carl Bradshaw speaks at the unveiling of the “Remember Me” mural in Sequim on July 20.
